September 6 – FIFA presidential candidate Zico, regarded very much as an outsider, has issued a 10-point manifesto saying he wants to rebuild the organisation based around “democratisation, transparency, governance and the permanent evolution of world football”.
The manifesto was launched on a new website that released the former Brazilian star’s so-called “10 Foundations for Change”.
Like other candidates, Zico, who scored 48 goals in 71 games for Brazil between 1976 and 1986, needs the nomination of five FIFA national federations. His own country says it will back him only if he can produce the four other nominations.
Zico wants representatives of players, coaches, the media and supporters to vote in future presidential elections, a laudable concept but totally against FIFA statutes as they stand.
The two heavyweights contenders to have so far put their names forward are UEFA boss Michel Platini and Chung Mong-joon, South Korea’s former Asian FIFA vice-president. Other hopefuls include former Trinidad and Tobago international David Nakhid, Liberian FA president Musa Bility and former Nigeria captain Segun Odegbami.
According to Reuters, Zico, who has already called for an early debate with other candidates, wants to meet them face to face in Zurich in late September, one month before the October 26 deadline for contenders to declare.
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